Blasting explosive



Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE FRANK H. BERGEIM, OF WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR -TO E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON,

WARE No Drawing.

This invention relates to the production of a blasting explosive. In particular it reusing the process of nitration therein outlined. I have now found that the explosive thus produced can be made the basis of a new blasting powder having unique and valuable properties as hereinafter pointed out.

I Ordinary dynamites having nitroglycerin as the basicingredient are subject to several,

objections. They produce a headache among the operators when handled, both in the process of manufacture and when used in the field.

- Although most modern dynamites are prethese results, however,

sumably non-freezing there are instances where the temperature has been so low that these liquid explosive dynamites have frozen and have thus become sources of. danger; Furthermore, liquid explosive dynamites are subject to leakage, making them both unpleasant and dangerous to handle.

The Well known nitrostarch dynamites have overcome to a certain extent some of the above mentioned objections. They are nonfreezing, non-headache not subject to leakage. In accomplishing they become very insensitive to detonation by influence. This low sensitiveness limits the field of use for these explosives.

I have discovered that when erythritol tetranitrate is used as the basis of a blasting explosive, a powder is produced which overcomes the objections pointed out above in liquid explosive dynamites, and at the same time is far superior to the nitrostarch powders in sensitiveness to detonation by in'- fiuence.

The dynamite thus produced is absolutely non-freezing. It does not produce a headache when handled. It is free-from leakage. It overcomes the outstaiidingyobjection to present solid explosive dynamites, that of being too insensitive. Erythritol tetranitrate has a further advantage overnitrostarch in that it is obtainable'as a pure crystalline compound of definite composiproducing, and are DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELA- BLASTING EXPLOSIVE Application filed May 3, 1928. Serial manners.

tion, insuring accurate chemical control of the properties of the powder.

A particularly novel feature of my invention is that I have discovered erythritol tetranitrate to be an explosive that impart-s unusual sensitiveness to solid explosive dynamites. In this respect I have found it to be far superior to such well known solid explosives as'T. N. T., tetryl, and nitrostarch. When substituted in part or in whole for the basic high explosive of the usual types of dynamite it has the property of imparting excellent strength and sensitiveness. Erythritol tetranitrate is as powerful an explosive as nitroglycerin and is considerably more powerful than nitrostarch. In several respects it has been found particularly well suited for the production of a practical blasting explosive. I have found that it is a useful explosive even in liquid explosive dynamites though its most valuable use lies in the field of solid explosive dynamites.

As illustrative examples of compositions .comprising erythritol tetranitrate which pro vide the highly desirable properties enumerated aforesaid, I may cite the following:

In the above composition I may vary the percentage of erythritol tetranitrate from 5 to adjusting the oxidizing agents and combustibles to make a properly balanced powder, to obtain the desired strength for the particular work to be done.

Ewample [1 In the above composition I may with ood results vary the erythritol tetramtrate rpm 5 to 25% adjusting the ammonium nitrate and wood meal to keep the powder properly balanced. I

Example [I] In this composition the erythritol tetranitrate content may vary from 5 to 25% adjusting the combustibles and oxidizing agents accordingly. The sulfur maybe used as indicated, or eliminated entirely. In the foregoing examples, I, II, and III, the erythritol tetranitrate may be partially substituted by nitrostarch. As nitrostarch is cheaper than erythritol tetranitrate this substitution eifects an economy without causing a harmful effect upon the sensitiveness of the powder. I have found that as much as 80% of the erythritol tetranitrate in the above powders may be substituted by nitrostarch and the powder still retain a much better sensitiveness than the ordinary nitrostarch powders.

By the term oxygen supplying as used herein, I mean to include those oxygen supplying salts capable of supplying oxygen for the oxidation of explosive ingredients.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof,

itis to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the specific embodiments thereof except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dynamite comprising erythritol tetranitrate as the chief sensitizing explosive constituent.

2. A dynamite comprising an oxygen salt capable of supplying oxygen and erythritol tetranitrate.

3. .A dynamite comprising an inorganic nitrate and erythritol tetranitrate.

4. A dynamite comprising'an inorganic nitrate, a carbohydrate and erythritol tetrani trate.

5. A dynamite comprising an inorganic nitrate, a carbohydrate, a solid explosive, and erythritol tetranitrate.

6. A dynamite comprising an inorganic nitrate, a carbohydrate, nitrostarch and erythritol tetranitrate.

7. A dynamite comprising an inorganic nitrate, a carbohydrate, and 5 to erythritol tetranitrate.

l 8. A dynamite comprising an inorganic nitrate, a carbohydrate, nitrostarch, and 5 to 60% erythritol tetranitrate.

9. A dynamite comprising a compound taken from a group consisting of sodium and 11. A dynam1te comprising erythritol tetranitrate and containing no liquid explosive, ingredient.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

FRANK H. BERGEIM. 

